Practice might make perfect, but perfection is useless if it can’t be summoned when it counts. Success at a pivotal moment requires the right kind of mental preparation, according to Daniel McGinn, author of the new book Psyched Up: How the Science of Mental Preparation Can Help YouSucceed (Portfolio/Penguin Random House, 2017). McGinn, a Boston College alumnus and journalist, dives into the latest psychological research to share strategies for harnessing talent and emotions to optimize success. His insights are applicable to athletes, business people, soldiers, entertainers or anyone looking to make the most of a given moment. McGinn is a former national correspondent for Newsweek and is currently a senior editor at Havard Business Review. Read a Boston Globe Magazine article adapted from McGinn’s book.